Winner in Montpellier (0-1), Saint-Etienne rushes to Europe

Dominated overall but realistic offensively, Saint-Etienne has signed in Montpellier his third success of rank (0-1) and climbs, at least temporarily, in fifth place.

The Greens made their realism speak
Undefeated for thirteen games now, the Greens know where they are going. And especially where they come from, they who were in the sixteenth row, a small dot in front of the red zone, three months ago. In full confidence in front of Montpellier who advances no longer, the men of Jean-Louis Gasset, who found for once a stadium he knows well, seemed determined to continue their series, and get closer to a little more this Europe that seemed so distant to them there is little. As a result, they hit home on their first offense. After relying on Monnet-Pack in the surface, Rémy Cabella served Romain Hamoumaalone in front of goal, and who had only to push the ball (10th). A cold shower for the locals. Dominated subsequently, the Greens then contented themselves with containing their opponent with a compact block and solidarity. With a little more success, they could even have folded the case by Cabella, who finally lost his duel against Lecomte (60) before bumping again on the porter Hérault (62). No matter what, the essential was achieved: the third victory in rank, the fifth in six games, and a fifth place in the standings, pending the match of Nice on Saturday.

Héraultais too clumsy
Even if they had, as often, a hard evil to shine in the game, the Montpellier have managed to create some situations, including passing by the sides. But, whether in the (very many) centers or the far-off strikes, they were far too imprecise to hope to deceive an impeccable Stéphane Ruffier when he had to employ. The goalkeeper Etienne, who is not among the named unveiled Friday by the UNFP for the title of the best goalkeeper of the season, first rejected a penalty Sio, following a foul on Cozza just before the break (45th). +2), before going out on a big hit Dolly (61). And he was able to count on his post on a deflected Skhiri shot (84). In total, the Héraultais tried 39 centers, and 26 shots, for only 5 squared. Skinny,

This Montpellier can feed regrets
As we know, this Montpellier version Der Zakarian is much more concerned with being solid defensively than with the quality of his offensive game. This is what has made his success since the beginning of the season, and which has allowed him to appear for a long time in European places. But the MHSC does not advance (1 win in 9 league games before Friday’s), and he had no choice but to win to not be completely won in the race for Europe. By lining up a resolutely defensive eleven at kick-off (5-3-2 with Lasne, Skhiri, and Piriz in the middle), the coach héraultais preferred to camp on his positions instead of trying everything for the whole. Wrong, since his men have chained the third setback of rank, and n ‘ have not scored for the third time in their last four games. Despite an obvious desire to do well, a favorable ball possession and a certain domination but sterile, the MHSC could only see the damage. It would now be a lot of circumstances to see him snatch a ticket for the next Europa League.